Three Ukrainian manufacturers have been selected to receive $1 million each to combat Iranian-made Shahed drones, the Ministry of Digital Transformation announced on June 27.
The manufacturers were chosen through the Drone Hackathon – Anti-Shahed event, where 50 teams presented their projects to representatives of Ukraine’s security and defense forces. The objective was to identify innovative solutions that could enhance the country’s defense capabilities.
The names of the companies involved have not been released to the public.
Contracts worth $1 million each will be signed with the selected winners, allowing for swift implementation of their innovations. These new technologies will help to combat the Shaheds without depleting the resources of the air defense forces.
“In times of war, it is crucial to understand the dynamics on the battlefield and propose techno-logical solutions,” stated Mykhailo Fedorov, the Minister of Digital Transformation.
“We observe how the situation at the frontlines is evolving, with technology playing an increasingly significant role. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), satellite communications, and situational awareness systems have become integral. The battle landscape is changing, necessitating prompt decision-making.”
Fedorov emphasized the critical need to develop systems to counter the Shahed drone. He cited the successful cases of the Drone Army, where both foreign and domestically produced UAVs have been deployed to the frontlines.
Oleksandr Kubrakov, the Minister of Infrastructure, highlighted the escalating threat, stating that at least 400 Shaheds were launched in Ukraine in May alone.
Since September last year, Ukraine has experienced a total of over 1,200 attacks by these unmanned attack drones.